--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse" description: "\"“A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse”\" — Frank McCourt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/frank-mccourt-2576_wink_a-nod-is-as-good-as-a-wink-to-a-blind-ho_3138999.png" --- # A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse ![“A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse” quote by Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/frank-mccourt-2576_wink_a-nod-is-as-good-as-a-wink-to-a-blind-ho_3138999.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/frank-mccourt-2576_wink_a-nod-is-as-good-as-a-wink-to-a-blind-ho_3138999.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/frank-mccourt-2576_wink_a-nod-is-as-good-as-a-wink-to-a-blind-ho_3138999.png) > ““A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse”” [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A subtle, indirect signal can be as effective as a direct one when the audience cannot see clearly. **In simple terms:** Indirect cues work when sight is limited. Key Takeaway Use clear signals for those who can't see. Themes communication clarity perception Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type advice wisdom When to use this quote - teaching - leadership - animal handling Key Concepts metaphor nonverbal cues Questions to Reflect On - When should you choose direct over indirect communication? - How do you ensure your signal is understood? A Different Perspective Relying on indirect cues may cause misunderstanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [A nod is as good as a wink to a blind badger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-rennison/a-nod-is-as-good-as-a-wink-to-a-blind-badger/) [Louise Rennison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-rennison/) > [A nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/a-nod-s-as-good-as-a-wink-to-a-blind-bat/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [A wink is as good as anod to a blind horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-wink-is-as-good-as-anod-to-a-blind-horse/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In horse racing they put these slats on either side of the horse's head, blocking the creature's peripheral vision. They're called blinders. They don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/in-horse-racing-they-put-these-slats-on-either-side-of-the-horse-s/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [SHAKE ME till you BREAK ME. (wink)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa/shake-me-till-you-break-me-wink/) [ALYSSA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa/) > [I have not slept one wink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-have-not-slept-one-wink/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I can see it in her eye cause she wink, and she toasts me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/i-can-see-it-in-her-eye-cause-she-wink-and-she-toasts-me/) [Ne-yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [If you want me, it takes more than a wink, more than a drink and more than you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-me-it-takes-more-than-a-wink-more-than-a-drink-and-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Play along, the wink said. I'll get you out of this. At least Artemis hoped this was what his wink communicated and not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/play-along-the-wink-said-i-ll-get-you-out-of-this-at-least-artemis/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [I do not think I should care to go on worshipping a Madonna even if she did wink. One cannot make much out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/i-do-not-think-i-should-care-to-go-on-worshipping-a-madonna-even-if/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [The eye is the casement at which the heart generally looks out. Many a woman who will not show herself at the door, has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/the-eye-is-the-casement-at-which-the-heart-generally-looks-out-many-a/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Baby, not a wink I could go for days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-walker/baby-not-a-wink-i-could-go-for-days/) [Clay Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-walker/) > [“Gotta concentrate, honey,” he smiled, then glanced at her with a wink. “And you looking at me the way you’re looking at me really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sibylla-matilde/gotta-concentrate-honey-he-smiled-then-glanced-at-her-with-a-wink-and/) [Sibylla Matilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sibylla-matilde/) > [Wink and shut their apprehensions up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marston/wink-and-shut-their-apprehensions-up/) [John Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marston/) > [“And eventually I realized that the reason I felt so peaceful was because Wink wasn’t taking stock. She wasn’t trying to figure out if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-genevieve-tucholke/and-eventually-i-realized-that-the-reason-i-felt-so-peaceful-was/) [April Genevieve Tucholke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-genevieve-tucholke/) ## More by Frank McCourt > [I'm not one of those James Joyce intellectuals who can stand back and look at the whole edifice... It was a slow process for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/i-m-not-one-of-those-james-joyce-intellectuals-who-can-stand-back-and/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [I admire certain priests and nuns who go off on their own and do God's work on their own, who help in the ghettos,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/i-admire-certain-priests-and-nuns-who-go-off-on-their-own-and-do-god/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [When I act tough they listen politely till the spasm passes. They know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/when-i-act-tough-they-listen-politely-till-the-spasm-passes-they-know/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [Just luxuriate in a certain memory, and the details will come. It's like a magnet attracting steel filings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/just-luxuriate-in-a-certain-memory-and-the-details-will-come-it-s/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [Sing your song. Dance your dance. Tell your tale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/sing-your-song-dance-your-dance-tell-your-tale/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [They all went into the bar business. Which was a mistake, because they began to sip at the merchandise and it set them back,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/they-all-went-into-the-bar-business-which-was-a-mistake-because-they/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [My childhood here... was very limited. So it was a long, long time before I actually went out to Brooklyn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/my-childhood-here-was-very-limited-so-it-was-a-long-long-time-before/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [We never really had any kind of a Christmas. This is one part where my memory fails me completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/we-never-really-had-any-kind-of-a-christmas-this-is-one-part-where-my/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [A lot of people say writers start losing their powers after 60 or 65. But I look at the best-seller list and see a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/a-lot-of-people-say-writers-start-losing-their-powers-after-60-or-65/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [“When the dark clouds flutter like bats in my head I wish I could open a window and release them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/when-the-dark-clouds-flutter-like-bats-in-my-head-i-wish-i-could-open/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [Shakespeare is like mashed potatoes, you can never get enough of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/shakespeare-is-like-mashed-potatoes-you-can-never-get-enough-of-him/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [I just have to proceed as usual. No matter what happens, nothing helps with the writing of the next book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/i-just-have-to-proceed-as-usual-no-matter-what-happens-nothing-helps/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [Worse than the ordinary, miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/worse-than-the-ordinary-miserable-childhood-is-the-miserable-irish/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [It's not enough to be American. You always have to be something else, Irish-American, German-American, and you'd wonder how they'd get along if someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/it-s-not-enough-to-be-american-you-always-have-to-be-something-else/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [I had to get rid of any idea of hell or any idea of the afterlife. That's what held me, kept me down. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/i-had-to-get-rid-of-any-idea-of-hell-or-any-idea-of-the-afterlife/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) [Explore all 159 Frank McCourt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) ## More Wink quotes > [“And eventually I realized that the reason I felt so peaceful was because Wink wasn’t taking stock. She wasn’t trying to figure out if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-genevieve-tucholke/and-eventually-i-realized-that-the-reason-i-felt-so-peaceful-was/) [April Genevieve Tucholke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-genevieve-tucholke/) > [Wink and shut their apprehensions up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marston/wink-and-shut-their-apprehensions-up/) [John Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marston/) > [“Gotta concentrate, honey,” he smiled, then glanced at her with a wink. “And you looking at me the way you’re looking at me really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sibylla-matilde/gotta-concentrate-honey-he-smiled-then-glanced-at-her-with-a-wink-and/) [Sibylla Matilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sibylla-matilde/) > [Baby, not a wink I could go for days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-walker/baby-not-a-wink-i-could-go-for-days/) [Clay Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-walker/) > [The eye is the casement at which the heart generally looks out. Many a woman who will not show herself at the door, has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/the-eye-is-the-casement-at-which-the-heart-generally-looks-out-many-a/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [I do not think I should care to go on worshipping a Madonna even if she did wink. One cannot make much out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/i-do-not-think-i-should-care-to-go-on-worshipping-a-madonna-even-if/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Play along, the wink said. I'll get you out of this. At least Artemis hoped this was what his wink communicated and not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/play-along-the-wink-said-i-ll-get-you-out-of-this-at-least-artemis/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [If you want me, it takes more than a wink, more than a drink and more than you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-me-it-takes-more-than-a-wink-more-than-a-drink-and-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can see it in her eye cause she wink, and she toasts me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/i-can-see-it-in-her-eye-cause-she-wink-and-she-toasts-me/) [Ne-yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [I have not slept one wink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-have-not-slept-one-wink/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [SHAKE ME till you BREAK ME. (wink)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa/shake-me-till-you-break-me-wink/) [ALYSSA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa/) > [Wink at small faults; remember thou hast great ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/wink-at-small-faults-remember-thou-hast-great-ones/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Wear pink and make the boys wink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilly-pulitzer/wear-pink-and-make-the-boys-wink/) [Lilly Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilly-pulitzer/) > [Danger will wink on opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/danger-will-wink-on-opportunity/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“You go looking, you gonna see more than you planned for and probably get charged twenty bucks,” he opined with a sage nod and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-burtness/you-go-looking-you-gonna-see-more-than-you-planned-for-and-probably/) Scott Burtness Browse all 76 Wink quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frank McCourt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/a-nod-is-as-good-as-a-wink-to-a-blind-horse/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Wink" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/a-nod-is-as-good-as-a-wink-to-a-blind-horse/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/frank-mccourt-2576_wink_a-nod-is-as-good-as-a-wink-to-a-blind-ho_3138999.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/frank-mccourt-2576_wink_a-nod-is-as-good-as-a-wink-to-a-blind-ho_3138999.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/frank-mccourt-2576_wink_a-nod-is-as-good-as-a-wink-to-a-blind-ho_3138999.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse” — Frank McCourt", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Frank McCourt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A nod is as good as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/a-nod-is-as-good-as-a-wink-to-a-blind-horse/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/a-nod-is-as-good-as-a-wink-to-a-blind-horse/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```